14. Secrets

Disclaimer: The lyrics used in the song Genevieve writes are not mine…they are in Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, extended edition in the Houses of Healing scene. The song is actually sung by Liv Tyler…but I wont get into! Haha! I just thought the lyrics kinda fit for the moment—and it's SUCH a pretty song!

The ballet was rehearsing when Genevieve retuned. Silently, she changed into her ballet attire, and slipped into the rehearsal. Madame Giry, noticing the girl, paused the lesson.

"Mademoiselle, so nice of you to join us," She said strictly. Genevieve looked up from tying her slipper, stood erectly in first position and looked Madame in the eye.

"Terribly sorry, Madame Giry, it won't happen again," she said firmly. Madame Giry, having an odd feeling about the past few weeks, let it slide and resumed the lesson, but could not take her eyes from Genevieve for the rest of the rehearsal.

When rehearsal ended, Meg grabbed Vive by the shoulder and pulled her side.

"Vive, what's gotten into you? Over sleeping on a regular basis and now not even showing up the ballet lessons on time? C'mon Vive, something is up," she said, staring Genevieve in the eyes.

"It's my new voice teacher…" Genevieve said firmly, staring her friend in the eyes back. Meg was clueless to this hint, as she just stood there, looking at Vive. Then, suddenly, Meg jumped back with a gasp.

"No!" She exclaimed. Genevieve clamped her hand over Meg's mouth.

"Shh…shhh!" Genevieve whispered. Meg looked around and the two girls ran to the nearest piano room and locked the door.

"The Phantom of the Opera, Genevieve?" Meg shrieked. Genevieve walked anxiously around the small room, looking at the scraps of manuscript paper. Finally she turned to her friend, her face glowing red in the candlelight.

"Yes…yes Meg. He has come to me every night in my mind…not actually being in my room. I hear his voice, and he teaches me, Meg!"

"Genevieve, you mustn't get involved with this, he is a dangerous man. You remember what happened with Christine!"

"Meg! Was it not you who said I might be his next student?" Genevieve snapped back. Meg jumped at her friend's hostility, and Vive, realizing this, sat down next to her.

"I'm sorry, Meg. I don't know what's happening to me."

"It's alright, Vive. Everything is going to be fine," Meg reassured. "He is dangerous, but, I know you won't let it get beyond teaching."

"Meg, I went to the labyrinth," Genevieve confessed.

"You what!" Meg shrieked again.

"Shhhh!" Genevieve hushed. "Yes, I did…he taught me the aria for his next opera," She replied quietly.

"Oh thank God," Meg sighed. "Please, try to come back earlier next time you go, Vive. My mother already suspects something…and she probably suspects the Phantom is involved."

"I understand that, Meg. I am careful. Besides, I know now that he is still in love with Christine, so I have nothing to fear," Genevieve said as she looked down. Hearing these words come out of her own mouth only broke her heart even more.

The two girls were silent for a moment, both pondering about Christine, and the previous year.

"So, what is it like down there?" Meg asked, trying to lighten the mood.

Genevieve laughed, "well, it's really dark getting there, but once you get to his musical throne, it's—hey, you've been there before!"

"Yes, but only briefly—I was too scared to stay, and I honestly don't really remember it. It must have changed since the fire too."

"I would image not. It's entirely stone. There is no way the fire would have affected it. But, truly, it is beautiful. Curtains of red and purple velvet hang high from the walls and ceiling—and candles, everywhere. There are a bunch of stone steps that lead up to what almost appears to be an alter—and up there, he had a magnificent pipe organ and a beautiful piano, all lit by hundreds of candles—it's so tranquil and mysterious…" Genevieve trailed off, staring at the wall, thinking of the man behind the mask.

"What does he look like?" Meg inquired, now fully engaged by her friend's tale.

"Oh, and the Phantom—he is brilliant! Tall, dark, mysterious—he has dark hair slicked back, and against his olive skin…and his dark eyes, filled with both passion and all the sorrow in the world. Oh! And his lips—full and soft and when he sings, the sometimes pucker out like this," Genevieve mimics the Phantom, "and the mask, Meg…the mask is so white against his face, whiter than the whitest cloud in the sky. He dresses all in black, but with a white shirt, and he usually wears a cape, sometimes black gloves that cover his hands…but oh! His hands, they are so strong and when they play, his fingers float over the keys like butterflies in the summer,"

"It sounds to me like somebody is in love with the Phantom of the Opera," Meg laughed.

"You mustn't tell anyone, Meg! Please promise me!" Genevieve begged her friend as she quickly came out of her soft trance. Her eyes were filled with angst as she stared at Meg helplessly.

"Oh God, Vive, you are in love with the Phantom!"

"Please, Meg! You must keep it secret! Nobody can find out—anybody!" Genevieve pleaded.

"I promise, Vive, I promise," Meg consoled her troubled friend. "So, does he have a name, or do you just call him 'teacher'?"

"Erik," Genevieve sighed, as she closed her eyes, imagining him telling her that he loved her.

"Erik, good name," Meg stated with a smile as she lifted her friend from her shoulder. "Come on, Vive, let's get out of here. Your secret is safe with me."

"You go on ahead, I'll meet you in about an hour, I've got something I must do first," Genevieve said, turning to the piano.

"Oh no, Vive, you're coming now! The last thing we all need is for you to be late again!" Meg laughed as she pulled her friend to her feet.

"No, Meg, I won't be late this time! I promise…I just need to write something," she said, sitting back down.

"Alright, but I'll be expecting you at lunch in exactly one hour…on the dot!" Meg laughed as she left the room.

Alone at last, Genevieve turned to the piano and began plunking out a few notes and scribbling on the scrap manuscript paper that was left in the room. She wrote down some lyrics to go with the melody she plunked out, and then added a few chords. A song about last night, Genevieve thought to herself, as she played rough draft of this new song.

With a sigh, You turn away, with a deepening heart, no more words to say You will find that the world has changed forever
The trees are now turning from green to gold, And the sun is now fading, I wish I could hold you closer

Genevieve finished the song and took the pieces of manuscript with her as she left the room.